Moberly Council adjusts ordinance

An issue has been raised by Moberly city resident Robert Dutton in regards to an ordinance passed in February 2012 by the City Council.

Comment

By Debbie Fitzpatrick

Moberly Monitor-Index - Moberly, MO

By Debbie Fitzpatrick

Posted Jul. 6, 2012 at 12:01 AM
Updated Jul 26, 2012 at 9:19 AM

By Debbie Fitzpatrick

Posted Jul. 6, 2012 at 12:01 AM
Updated Jul 26, 2012 at 9:19 AM

Moberly, Mo.

An issue has been raised by Moberly city resident Robert Dutton in regards to an ordinance passed in February 2012 by the City Council.

The issue is with an ordinance relating to the placement requirements of secondary markers in Oakland Cemetery. This was enacted to prevent the secondary markers placed at the foot of one’s grave from encroaching, and in some cases, abutting the back of the headstone of the adjoining lot.

The ordinance states that all monuments shall be placed in the center of the lot, the monument must be square with the lot and shall face only east or west. If a person owns multiple lots that adjoin the monument may be placed in the center of the sum of adjoining lots. (Adjoining lots include connective ownership with no separations via walkways, roads or etc.)

The ordinance continues: “All headstones/markers shall be placed at the head or at the west end of the grave. Markers and/or headstones that must be placed in front of the primary marker or monument (including military markers, additional headstones, etc.), must be flush with the ground surface and either adjacent to or immediately to the east of the primary headstone/marker.

This ordinance took effect in February and is now in force after being passed by the Council of the City of Moberly.

Dutton brought a complaint in regards to the placement of a military marker placed on a relative’s grave that was placed in a different manner than they were in the past. He had photos of the current placement upon the relative’s grave and of another that was placed in the past and would like the most recent one amended to match the one from the past. He has also requested that the City of Moberly take on responsibility of payment for the moving of the stone.

The matter was discussed at ensuing council meetings with Tom Sanders having looked into ways other cemeteries respect adjoining lots. City of Moberly staff presented a proposal which would allow military markers to be placed towards the foot of the grave, with an 18-inch separation from the East end, to provide separation from the adjoining lot, and to keep the markers flush with ground surface.

The Moberly City Council has agreed to bring this proposal forward for a vote at the upcoming meeting on July 16.